From Tragedy to Duty

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Article Title: “Martyn’s Law: From Tragedy to Duty”
By @grassmonster

Some laws are drafted in the quiet corridors of committee rooms. Others are forged in fire.

Martyn’s Law, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is one of the latter. Born of grief, sharpened by outrage, and carried into law by the relentless voice of a mother who refused to let her son’s name vanish beneath the rubble of the Manchester Arena.

Martyn Hett was one of 22 people murdered in the 2017 Manchester bombing, a moment that turned a pop concert into a war zone and exposed terrifying gaps in public venue security. His mother, Figen Murray, made it her life’s mission to ensure no other family would receive that call – the one that freezes time and breaks everything.

And she succeeded.

As of April 2025, every public venue in the UK with a capacity of 200 or more is legally required to assess the threat of terrorism and train their staff in what to do if the unthinkable happens. Concert halls, arenas, clubs, even large cafes – all now fall under the same banner of proactive responsibility.

This is not about making every public space a fortress. It’s about having a plan. It’s about the idea that safety isn’t just the job of security guards – it belongs to managers, cleaners, baristas, and every other soul in the building.

Of course, some have grumbled. Small business owners fear red tape. Event organisers worry about cost. But ask any of the parents from Manchester what the real cost is.

Martyn’s Law does not pretend to prevent every attack. But it forces preparedness into the mainstream. It replaces “we never thought it would happen here” with “we knew it might – and we acted.”

It is a rare thing when legislation rises directly from love and pain. But this law did. It speaks loudly in Martyn’s name, and for those whose names we never want to learn the same way.Author: @grassmonster
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